Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_October_2020 - 8

EDITOR'S NOTE

No breaks

for networkers

This fall carve out some hours, get cozy
in your favorite chair, and connect with
your colleagues online.
By Sara Scullin, Editor
Sara@VehicleServicePros.com

s we navigate our way through
COVID-19, we find ourselves in this
perpetual state of planning, replanning,
and reworking many of the processes and
events that were once the status quo.
The PTEN team typically spends a good
amount of time on the road, covering trade
shows, industry events, and new product
demos and reveals. The biggest events of
the year, of course, are the AAPEX and
SEMA shows in Las Vegas at the start of
November. Like many of you, we value this
show because it's where we trek the miles
upon miles of eye-popping tool and equipment booths. It's where we catch up with
friends old and new.
While things will be a bit different this
year, don't clear your schedules quite yet.
In the last couple months, both AAPEX
and SEMA announced they will take the
popular Vegas tool shows online. The
AAPEX virtual event will happen November
3-5, and SEMA360 will take place November
2-6. The AAPEX digital event will aim to
highlight the show's usual elements, including offering AAP and MAAP accredited
courses on topics ranging from diagnostics
and business best practices to ADAS and
attracting top talent.
Bill Hanvey, AAPEX president and CEO,
said it best when he said, "AAPEX didn't
become the extraordinary event it is today
by thinking small and not evolving to changing times and circumstances. While we had
hoped to meet in person, we are excited to use
technology to bring together the supply chain
of essential services to conduct business."
In similar fashion, SEMA360 is billed as

PTEN

OCTOBER 2020

VehicleServicePros.com

"an online marketplace to allow manufacturers and resellers in the specialty automotive
segment to connect and conduct business."
Chris Kersting, SEMA president and
CEO, says "Creating a platform where
the industry can gather and discover new
products and trends has always been a
SEMA priority."
SEMA's virtual platform will allow buyers
to interact with manufacturers, see new products, check out vehicle builds, and participate
in classes and educational opportunities.
There's sure to be something for everyone at each of these shows, so check out the
sites (aapexshow.com and semashow.com),
peruse the speaker lists, and make note of
any products or manufacturers you've been
meaning to investigate.
Maybe you've realized by now (like I
have) that a pandemic does not necessarily
mean business - or networking - slows. It
just changes.
As for us, we'll miss the handshakes, the
dinners, and the impromptu run-ins (sometimes literal) in the Las Vegas Convention
Center halls. But where there's a will
there's a way, and we will not miss out on
new tools!

Look for PTEN's AAPEX and SEMA coverage
next month on VehicleServicePros.com.
We'll be logging on to investigate and
share info on new products and industry
happenings, as well as celebrate PTEN's
own virtual Innovation Awards ceremony.
Stay tuned!

Brittany Vincent
Managing Editor

Emily Markham
Assistant Editor

Kayla Oschmann
Assistant Editor

Barry Hoyland
Contributing Editor

Scott Brown
Technical Editor

PTEN Editorial Advisory Board
Technicians
John Harris,
Brooks-Huff Goodyear, Timonium MD
Eric Moore,
DeMary Trucks, Columbus, OH
Lou Fort,
K.A.R.S. Inc., Huntingburg, IN
Shop Owners
Phil Fournier,
Phil's Auto Clinic, Hemet, CA
JD Goad,
Goad's Body Shop, Lexington, VA
Edwin Hazzard,
Southeast Mobile Tech, Goose Creek, SC
Barry Hoyland,
VSSCA, Camarillo, CA
Pete Rudloff,
Pete's Garage Inc., Newark, DE
Equipment Manufacturers
Chad Schley,
Schley Products/SP Tools
Jim O'Hara,
Clore Automotive

http://www.aapexshow.com http://www.semashow.com http://www.VehicleServicePros.com http://www.VehicleServicePros.com http://www.VehicleServicePros.com

Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_October_2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_October_2020